Improvement in cradles and cribs



WEANT."

Cradles and Cribs.

Patented Dec. 22, 1874.

UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. VVEANT, OF SALISBURY, NORTH CAROLINA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CRADLES AND CRIBS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 157,979, dated December 22,1874; application filed October 19, 1874..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. WEANT, of Salisbury, in the county of Rowan and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cradles and Cribs, of which the following is a specification:

Heretofore cradles have been provided with shields made in the form of a segment of a circle, such being combined with a frame-work fixed on top of the cradle, such frame-work and the shield being of the same contourthat is to say, of the form of a quarter circle. In such construction the shield has been pivoted upon the fixed frame-work so as to drop beneath the same, or thrown out to cover the gpening and protect the interior of the era- In this construction the fixed frame, having the shield pivoted thereto, is secured by fastening devices to the sides of the cradle, so that when desired to have an open-top cradle, the frame-work, with the shield, must be lifted bodily from the cradle.

In another instance, a cradle has been provided with a shield covering the entire surface, such shield being diametrically divided to form two sections, Which are hinged together, and the whole secured upon the cradle by fastening-hooks, the result being that all must be bodily lifted from the cradle when it is desired to have a full open top.

Such constructions, as above stated, are costly, complicated, and difficult to operate, and, further, the parts occupy much space when removed from the cradle, which, as before stated, is essential when it is desired to have a full open top. As such features form no part of my invention, in this application they are disclaimed.

The invention consists in the employment of a semi-cylindrical screen, which is pivoted to the head and foot board or rail of the eradle or crib, so as to be capable of being turned up to cover the entire top of the same when insects are to be excluded, the frame to which the screen is applied being so shaped that the screen can be turned on its axis, so as to bring it under said frame, in which case ready access can be had to the cradle, 8m.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention, showing the screen turned beneath a crib Fig. 2, a side elevation, showing the screen turned to cover the crib; Fig. 3, a transverse section of the same.

The cradle-body, which is of a semi-cylindrical shape, is composed of a skeleton frame, double bottom slats, and side and end panels, of netting, wire-gauze, slats, &c. The cradlebody proper is supported in or attached to a rectangular frame, 0, having legs D and bottom rockers E. Only one side of the cradlebody is attached to its supporting-frame, and space is left at the other side and both ends for the .reception and movement of a semicylindrical screen, I Said screen is composed of a frame of ribs, bows, and longitudinal bars, over which is distended a covering of netting, wire-gauze, or other foraminous material. The screen, which is capable of being rotated in the path of a semicircle, is pivoted at its bottom to the ends of the frame (1 by means of pivot or axis pins to. W'hen a cradle or crib is occupied, it is desirable that a protective covering should be placed over the same, for excluding flies, mosquitoes, and other insects and vermin that would be liable to annoy or injure the occupant, and for this purpose I have contrived the movable screen, as it can be turned on its axis to bring it over the entire top of the eradle or crib, in which position it completely answers the purpose for which it is designed. As the covering of the screen is made of a foraminous material, a free passage of air is permissible, and thus a proper ventilation of the interior of the cradle can take place.

When it is desirable to uncover the cradle so as to remove the occupant, or for other purposes, the screen is rotated on its axis, so as to bring it entirely under the body of the eradle, in which position the screen is entirely out of the way. Therotary movement of the screen is permitted by the open spaces at the ends and side of the cradle-body, but only to such an extent as to bring the bottom edge of the screen on a level with the top of the eradle-body, the under side of the attaching ledge or plate d of the latter acting as a stop for limiting the movement of the screen. It is obvious that the screen can be retained at any desired position within the path of its complete movement when it is desired to cover only a portion of the cradle-top. Suitable stops or fastening-pins are employed for the latter purpose.

In operation, the screen moves in one direction to such an extent as will bring it over the en tire surface of the cradle or crib, and in an opposite direction until it is entirely below the same, to which it is applied so as to be completely out of the way, and being pivoted to the head and foot board or rail, by short axial bolts or pins, access to the interior of the eradle or crib is not effected as would be if a shaft extended the entire length. 

